| Show SOWIETTE--POLITICAL CHIEF OF THE UTES Linnie Findlay Ephraim Utah Non-Professional Second Place DMvision Historical Essay That the Mormons and Indians lived as peacefully together as they did istribute both to the skill of Brigham Young and his 1ieutenants and to the wisdom of tribal political chiefs such as Sowiette and Kanosh The forezoing evaluation of the settlement of Utah by Conway Sonne seems to be borne out by many historians of the early It is Utah written period in those histories that Chief Ora father of Chief Sowiette Walker Sanpitch Arapene and at least twelve other brothers fused to and half-brothers was send his warriors with the Shoshones Mr shot in the back because he had rethe Timpanogas Utes inraid against He had close relatives in the Shoshone tribe Sonne states that Walker and Arapene buried their father Ute tribal fashion with his horses weapons and possiblysquaw in or two He says further that the mantle of tribal authority now fell on both Walkerand Sowietteshoulders There issuggestion that Wakara may have beenfavorite of the old chief and that Sowiette who was already actively governing civil affairs of the tribe assumed even greater influence in his sphere Under dual leadership came most of the tribal subdivisions There is not much recorded about Sowiette except in this brief sen tences in accounts of the daring and colorful younger war-chief Walkara or Chief Walker as we know him Orson Whitney in his History of Utah quotes Lieutenant Gunnison who seems to be referring Chief Ora and Sowlette late chief of the Utahs acting clans successor on the plurality law left about thirty sons most of whom have small under them His true is fine brave Indian with largest band immediately around him and he exercises comtrol over all whom he chooses He isfriend of the Mormons half-brother of in his named Walker has stealing horses from become rich and celebrated for his success the Mexicans He haslarge drove of cat tle with many followers Inletter to his brother Orson Pratt who was serving asMissionary in England Parley Pratt wrote onSeptember 1848 of an Indian visit to the ploneer settlement in Salt Lake Valley and referred to Sowiette as king of the whole Utah mation and he said of the Indians They were good looking brave and intelligent beyond any we had seen on this side of the mountains Henry Day sub agent wrote onJamuary 1852 to Lea Luke Commissioner of Indian affairs All -85e these tribes before mentioned |
